The European Union is currently reviewing progress under the European Child Guarantee (ECG), a framework designed to ensure that children at risk of poverty or social exclusion can access the services they need, including healthy food. As part of this review, the Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) has submitted feedback to the European Commission's public consultation, drawing on the work of the SchoolFood4Change EU project to make the case for school meals as a core child rights policy tool.

Our submission calls on the EU to adopt the Whole School Food Approach (WSFA), a practical framework that connects nutrition, food education, sustainability and community partnership. Our feedback also highlights the need for Fair Trade criteria in school food procurement, to ensure that public money supports supply chains that are fair to farmers and workers worldwide while providing nutritious food for children. From minimum EU standards to long-term local coordination, the feedback outlines concrete steps the Commission can take.

Read our full feedback to find out how school food policy can help the EU deliver on its promise to every child.

Get in touch:

For more information about our work on Public Procurement, please reach out to Paola Plaku at plaku@fairtade-advocacy.org.